Removable identification band for cartons and blank for producing the same



3,335,938 TONS AND 7 Aug. 15, 1967- R. G. KRAMER REMOVABLE IDENTIFICATION BAND FOR CAR BLANK FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Original Filed Sept.

INVENTOR ROBE/PT 6. KRAMER KQRL (D. FLoc Ks ATTORNEY United States Patent 6 Claims. (Cl. 22938) This application is a division of applicants copending application Ser. No. 396,576, filed Sept. 15, 1964, entitled, Removable Identification Band for Cartons and Blank for Producing Same.

This invention relates to improvements in cartons provided with a removable label or simulated band.

Cartons having a simulated band, i.e. identifying band have been proposed in the past (see for example US. Letters Patents to Bolding #2,950,040 and Cornell et al. #3,026,014). As exemplified by the above-mentioned patents, bands of the character involved generally incorporate advertising material, identification marks, trademarks, etc. Often, particularly during holiday seasons, the purchaser subsequently desires to purchase a product and prior presentation of the gift, the giver often desires to remove the manufacturers identification label, etc. In the case of liquor, wine and the like, the manufacturers often prepare exceptionally attractive cartons having considerable orientation, etc. thereon so that these cartons do not require any additional wrapping, i.e. they are gift wrapped upon removal of the band or label.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide improved cartons which incorporate bands facilitating the application of identification indicia and which may be subsequently removed in a ready and expeditious manner without affecting the neat and attractive appearance of the carton in which the product is packaged.

Additional primary objects of the present invention are as follows:

To provide a carton with a removable and preferably or generally transparent label overlying the ornamental wrapper and/or indicia on the carton, and which band can be readily removed without disfiguring the outer surface of the carton;

To provide a cart-on and blank having a removable label which is detachably connected to at least one tuck flap of a closure assembly of the carton and in which the label extends lengthwise of the outer surface of the carton;

To provide a carton and blank with a removable label or identification band in which terminal ends of the bands are connected to the tuck flaps at upper and lower portions of the closure assembly of the carton;

To provide a carton and blank which includes an automatically opening bottom closure assembly and an upper closure assembly having a tuck flap, and in which an identification label is connected to the bottom closure assembly and the tuck flap and is readily removable from the carton whenever desired;

Other and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the specification when taken in conjunction with the drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank showing one embodiment of the invention, portions being shown partially in perspective to illustrate structural details;

3,335,938 Patented Aug. 15, 1967 ice FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carton assembled from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the upper end of the carton and its appearance when the carton is closed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the identification band or label can be removed from the carton after the carton has been closed; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing a lower closure assembly illustrating an alternate embodiment of a carton blank where the carton incorporates a substantially automatic-opening bottom closure assembly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first considering FIGS. 1-4, a one-piece blank produced from paperboard or any other suitable material is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a planar blank element 12 which is suitably cut and scored as is recognized by those skilled in the art. The blank element 12 comprises four rectangular walls 14, 16, 18 and 20 foldably adjacent walls being connected to each other on mutually parallel hinge or score lines 22, 24 and 26. Foldably connected on a side edge marginal fold line 28 is an elongated glue flap 30 which will receive adhesive 32 on the inner surface thereof. Although the glue flap 30 is illustrated as being formed at the marginal fold line 28 of the wall 20, it is evident to those skilled in the art that this glue flap could like wise be produced or formed along the free edge margin 34 of the wall 14, i.e. in this event (although not shown) the fold line 28 would comprise a free side edge margin. Further, means other than a glue flap can be used to assemble the carton.

The walls 14-20 include upper and lower transverse margins 36 and 38, respectively. At least three of the walls 14-18, for example, include colinear upper marginal fold line segments 40, 42 and 44, respectively, forming a part of the upper marginal fold line 36 while the wall 20 includes a free upper marginal segment 46. Hingedly connected to the marginal fold lines 40 and 44 are inner closure flaps 48 and 50, respectively, which are separated from a top closure panel 52 by die-cut side margins 54 and 56, respectively. The top closure panel 52 is hingedly connected to the fold line 42 and includes transversely thereof and parallel to the fold line 42 at a fold line 58 a tuck flap 60.

The lower edge of the wall 20 comprises a free edge margin 46', and the segmental fold lines 40', 44' at the lower edge of walls 14, 18 have hingedly connected thereto second inner closure flaps of the bottom closure assembly and are indicated at 48' and 50. The flaps 48', 50 flank a second closure panel 52' and are separated therefrom by die-cuts 54' and 56', respectively. The second closure panel 52' includes transversely thereacross and parallel to the fold line 42', a score or fold line 58' to which is hingedly connected at second tuck flap 60'. Overlying and unsecured to the outer surface of the wall 16 and the respective first and second closure panels 52, 52' is identification label or band 62 which is terminally secured at opposite ends 64 and 66 to the outer surface of the tuck flaps 60 and 60', respectively, adjacent the fold lines 58 and 58', respectively, by means of a suitable adhesive as indicated at 66 and 66.

The blank element 12 is assembled in the usual manner i.e. the glue flap 30 (or other suitable means) is secured along the free margin 34 of the wall 14, i.e. at the inner surface thereof accordingly forming a foldable-flat assembled and unerected carton which can be readily packed, stored and shipped.

The carton is erected by disposing the walls 14, 18 and 16, 20 in respective mutually parallel spaced relationship for forming a rectangular tubular body as indicated generally at 68 in FIG. 2, for example.

The upper closure assembly comprising the flaps 43, 50 and closure panel 52 is indicated generally at 70 and the lower closure assembly comprising the flaps 48', 50' and panel 52 is indicated generally at 70'. In order to close the bottom of the carton, the flaps 48 and 50 are disposed in substantially coplanar relationship, i.e. normal to the walls 14 and 18, respectively, when being folded inwardly toward each other. The panel 52' is disposed transversely across the lower end of the tubular carton, and the tuck flap 60' with the terminal end of band 62 is folded normal to the closure panel 52' and is inserted behind the free marginal edge 60 of the wall 20. The product, i.e. a

bottle of liquor, wine, etc., is then inserted in the carton which now has the bottom closure assembly 70' closed; the closure flaps 48, 50 are disposed in substantially coplanar relationship whereafter the upper closure panel 52 is folded into overlying relationship with respect to the inner closure flaps 48, 50 and the tuck flap 60 with the terminal end of the band 62 attached thereto is inserted behind the free marginal edge 46 of the wall 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

The identification band 62 is produced from acetate, paper or any other suitable printable material of the character which may be readily severed at the fold lines 58, 58', for example, and thus may be readily removed in the manner indicated in FIG. 4, note the torn edge 72 of the identification band or label. The band or label will be drawn taut and clearly fills the need of the manufacturer, i.e. identifying the product, and the need of the purchaser, i.e. an unmarked product. If desired, the band can be provided with a series of perforations to aid the tearing at the fold lines 58, 58'.

Referring to FIG. 5, a fragmentary lower portion of the blank is indicated generally at 100 and comprises a blank element 112 including walls 114, 116, 118 and 120 which are connected on mutually parallel fold or score lines 122, 124 and 126. The wall 120- has hingedly connected to the fold line 128 a glue flap 130. This blank is assembled in substantially the same manner as the previously described embodiment, however, the lower marginal fold line indicated generally at 138' comprises segmental fold lines 140'146'. Foldably connected to the fold lines 140'146 are cooperating closure flaps 148, 152', 150 and 151', which form a lower closure assembly which opens automatically, and is of the character disclosed in the patents to Bolding and Cornell et al., mentioned above.

A vertically extending identification band or label 162 is terminally secured at its upper end to a tuck flap similar to tuck flap 60 of an upper closure panel 50 (not shown). The lower terminal end 164 of the label or identification band 162 is secured by means of a suitable adhesive to the closure flap 152 adjacent the fold line 142'.

In each of the just described embodiments, the identification band or label will be drawn substantially taut across the outer surface of one of the vertically extending walls and across the top of the upper outer closure panel of the closure assembly of the respective cartons.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A carton produced from a suitably cut-and-scored, one-piece blank including four rectangular walls (14- 20), adjacent walls being connected on mutually parallel fold lines (22-28), a first of said walls (20) including a 4,. free transverse margin (46), the second and third alternate pair of said walls (14, 18) including inner closure flaps (48, 50) connected on transverse fold lines (40, 44) colinear with said free margin, and the fourth wall (16) disposed between said alternate pair of walls having hingedly connected thereto on a fold line (42) a top outer closure panel (52) equal in length to the width of said pair of alternate walls and overlying said inner closure flaps, said top closure panel including a transverse fold line (58) having hingedly connected thereto a tuck flap (60), said walls including a lower closure flap assembly (75, 148'151), and an identification band (62) freely overlying the outer surface of said fourth wall and the outer surface of said top outer closure panel, terminal ends of said identification 'band being secured to said lower closure flap assembly and the outer surface of said transverse tuck flap, the portion of said identification band overlying said top outer closure flap providing means whereby said identification band can be readily removed from said carton at the terminal ends secured to the carton and providing a portion for receiving indicia thereon in addition to indicia disposed on that portion of the identification band overlying the outer surface of said fourth wall.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said lower closure assembly includes a second outer closure panel extending transversely over the other end of said tubular body and including a terminal tuck flap, the other end of said identification band being connected only to the tuck flap of said second closure panel, said band extending in juxtaposed overlying relationship to said second closure panel.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said lower closure assembly comprises cooperating closure flaps hingedly connected to lower edges of said carton walls and including cooperating portions automatically orienting the same into planar relation when said carton is formed into a tube, the other end of said band being connected to the closure flap at the lower edge of said fourth wall.

4. A one-piece 'blank for producing a foldable-flat rectangular cross-sectioned tubular carton including a removable identification band, comprising:

a planar blank element including four rectangular walls (14-20), adjacent walls being connected on mutually parallel fold lines (22-28), said walls including linear upper and lower margins normal to said mutually parallel fold lines, a lower closure flap assembly hingedly connected to said lower margin of said walls, the first of said walls including a free margin (46), the second and third alternate walls (14, 18) including inner closure flaps hingedly connected to the upper margin thereof, the fourth wall being disposed between said second and third alternate walls and including a top outer closure panel (52) hingedly connected to the top margin thereof, said top, outer closure panel having a terminal fold line margin (58) and a transverse tuck flap (60) hingedly connected to said closure panel, and an indicia band terminally secured only at said tuck flap and said lower closure flap assembly and overlying in unsecured relation over the outer surface of said fourth wall and the top closure panel.

5. The blank as claimed in claim 4, in which said lower closure flap assembly includes a second closure panel hingedly connected to said fourth wall to which said first closure panel is hingedly connected and extends from the other marginal edge of said wall to which said first-mentioned closure panel is hingedly connected, said second closure panel terminating in a transverse tuck flap, said label being detachably connected to said second tuck flap.

6. The structure as claimed in claim 4 in which said blank lower closure flap assembly includes a closure flap hingedly connected to the lower margin of said fourth wall at the lower marginal edge opposite said first men- 5 6 tioned outer closure panel, said label being terminally 2,285,212 6/1942 La May 40312 secured in overlying relationship to said last-mentioned 2,772,044 11/ 1956 Layne 22951 closure flap. 2,950,040 8/1960 Bolding 229-38 R fer n s Cited 3,026,014 3/ 1962 Cornell et al. 22938 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,192,423 M1940 Ward et all JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Przmary Exammer.

2,281,707 5/1942 Mott. DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner. 

1. A CARTON PRODUCED FROM A SUITABLY CUT-AND-SCORED, ONE-PIECE BLANK INCLUDING FOUR RECTANGUALR WALLS (1420), ADJACENT WALLS BEING CONNECTED ON MUTUALLY PARALLEL FOLD LINES (22-28), A FIRST OF SAID WALLS (20) INCLUDING A FREE TRANSVERSE MARGIN (46), THE SECOND AND THIRD ALTERNATE PAIR OF SAID WALLS (14, 18) INCLUDING INNER CLOSURE FLAPS (48, 50) CONNECTED ON TRANSVERSE FOLD LINES (40, 44) COLINEAR WITH SAID FREE MARGIN, AND THE FOURTH WALL (16) DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID ALTERNATE PAIR OF WALLS HAVING HINGEDLY CONNECTED THERETO ON A FOLD LINE (42) A TOP OUTER CLOSURE PANEL (52) EQUAL IN LENGTH TO THE WIDTH OF SAID PAIR OF ALTERNATE WALLS AND OVERLYING SAID INNER CLOSURE FLAPS, SAID TOP CLOSURE PANEL INCLUDING A TRANSVERSE FOLD LLINE (58) HAVING HINGEDLY CONNECTED THERETO A TUCK FLAP (60), SAID WALLS INCLUDING A LOWER CLOSURE FLAP ASSEMBLY (75'', 148''-151''), AND AN IDENTIFICATION BAND (62) FREELY OVERLYING THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID FOURTH WALL AND THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID TOP OUTER CLOSURE PANEL, TERMINAL ENDS OF SAID IDENTIFICATION BAND BEING SECURED TO SAID LOWER CLOSURE FLAP ASSEMBLY AND THE OUTER SURFACE TO SAID TRANSVERSE TUCK FLAP, THE PORTION OF SAID IDENTIFICATION BAND OVERLYING SAID TOP OUTER CLOSURE FLAP PROVIDING MEANS WHEREBY SAID IDENTIFICATION BAND CAN BE READILY REMOVED FROM SAID CARTON AT THE TERMINAL ENDS SECURED TO THE CARTON AND PROVIDING A PORTION FOR RECEIVING INDICIA THEREON IN ADDITION TO INDICIA DISPOSED ON THAT PORTION OF THE IDENTIFICATION BAND OVERLYING THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID FOURTH WALL. 